The 4th of July is a big deal on Mackinac Island with old-fashioned family games, the oldest stone skipping competition in the country and two fireworks displays at dusk. In 2026, the 4th of July will be bigger than ever, commemorating the semi-quincentennial of the July 4, 1776, signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Yet, Mackinac Island’s America250 celebrations won’t be confined to the 4th of July. There are patriotic activities and events happening all season long in 2026!
Here’s a look at some of the ways Mackinac Island is commemorating the USA’s 250th birthday party:
- A new daily program at historic Fort Mackinac will highlight how the American Revolution prompted construction of the fort on the bluffs of Mackinac Island as the British sought higher ground to defend against a potential American attack. The Changing Face Of Fort Mackinac will take place at 9:30 a.m. from May 1-June 5 and at 10 a.m. from June 6-Oct. 24.
- Starting on Friday, June 12, a curator will lead a 90-minute guided tour of Fort Mackinac every Friday to highlight how the place evolved over the decades, from the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812 and to the end of the 19th century when soldiers played base ball and took care of Mackinac National Park.
- A special America250 event, “Built Because Of The Revolution,” will happen Thursday, July 2, at Fort Mackinac. A historian will lead an after-hours guided tour of the fort.
- A Star-Spangled Fourth Of July celebration is planned Saturday, July 4, at Fort Mackinac with patriotic finery, a 38-gun salute, children’s games and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Festivities begin at 3 p.m. and are included with regular fort admission.
- The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum will host a special exhibition from May 8-Oct. 4. "Echoes Of The Island: A Journey Through Time" will feature works inspired by Mackinac Island's storied past.
- The Fort Mackinac Never Sweats will compete in a Vintage Base Ball Game on Saturday, July 25, outside the fort on the parade grounds, which is home to the oldest ballfield in Michigan. The game will start at 6:30 p.m.
Mackinac State Historic Parks also is making exclusive America250 merchandise available in 2026 including clothing, souvenirs and books available at the Fort Mackinac Museum Store and the Official State Park Store at the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center.
Mackinac Island on July 4, 1776
Although the 4th of July on Mackinac Island these days is cause for a big celebration, that was not the case on July 4, 1776. At the time, what is now beloved as the USA’s Best Summer Travel Destination was actually part of Quebec!
While Thomas Jefferson and the rest of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia asserted independence for the 13 American colonies at the time, Mackinac Island was under the authority of Quebec Gov. Frederick Haldimand. To this day, boats enter Haldimand Bay as they approach the Mackinac Island ferry docks or Mackinac Island marina.
Haldimand and other British authorities were none too keen on the idea of American independence. In fact, even after the end of the Revolutionary War the redcoats refused to relinquish control of Fort Mackinac!
It wasn’t until 1796 – two decades after the Declaration of Independence – that the British finally yielded possession of Fort Mackinac (and even then only temporarily, as you’ll see below). So while Mackinac Island will host a spectacular 4th of July party in 2026 to commemorate the semi-quincentennial, this year is also the 230th anniversary of U.S. rule on Mackinac Island. And that transfer of power happened not on July 4, but Sept. 1!
Mackinac Island At Key Points In U.S. History
Now, for some more fascinating facts about Mackinac Island, here’s a look at what was happening here during previous milestone anniversaries in American history:
July 4, 1826, American Semicentennial on Mackinac Island
By the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Mackinac Island was safely in American hands – but only after another war led to a bloody battle.
After the British recaptured Mackinac Island during the War of 1812 without firing a single shot and built Fort George on the island’s highest point to deter any future counterattacks, American forces in August 1814 tried unsuccessfully to oust the British in the Battle of Mackinac Island. Casualties included the death of Maj. Andrew Holmes in a fight that took place on a field that is now Wawashkamo Golf Club. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war several months later and ceded Mackinac Island back to the Americans, who renamed Fort George in memory of Maj. Holmes.
For the next several years, Mackinac Island remained a fur-trading hub and strategic military outpost. The community also made international news during this time with Fort Mackinac surgeon Dr. William Beaumont’s amazing medical experiments on a man who lived with a hole in his stomach.
July 4, 1876, American Centennial on Mackinac Island
By the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the military importance of Fort Mackinac had waned along with the decline of the fur trade and Mackinac Island had begun transforming into the travel hotspot we know and love today. Congress in 1875 established America’s second national park on Mackinac Island. The park enhanced the island’s tourism profile and led to more hotels and summer cottages, too.
Fortunately, the national park had a ready pool of labor in the roster of Fort Mackinac soldiers, who maintained the park when they weren’t busy playing the newly invented game of base ball. In fact, Mackinac Island’s 4th of July festivities in the late 1800s often included baseball games along with activities such as foot races, rifle matches, 38-gun salutes, dances, regattas and, for soldiers, extra rations of whiskey.
July 4, 1926, American Sesquicentennial on Mackinac Island
Florence Fuller published Map and Guide of Mackinac Island in 1926, highlighting several dozen places of interest for visitors as Mackinac Island continued to cement itself as a prime travel destination. Many hotels were built around the turn of the century, and both the island and the park (which became a state park) made the decision to go car-free and rely on charming horse-drawn transportation.
Meanwhile, Mackinac Island fudge shops were honing their craft in the 1920s and producing a soon-to-be-world-famous treat. By the end of the decade, the Mackinac Island Scout Service Camp started with participants including future President Gerald R. Ford.
July 4, 1976, American Bicentennial on Mackinac Island
The Great Depression and World War II both hindered tourism on Mackinac Island, prompting some businesses (including fudge shops!) to close. But the postwar economic boom supercharged Mackinac Island’s growth as a prime travel destination. The first Lilac Queen was crowned in 1949, followed by construction of the Mackinac Bridge and interstate highways in the ensuing decades.
Historic preservation efforts, such as Island House Hotel getting saved from the wrecking ball, and a car-free commitment helped retain Mackinac Island’s unique charm and boost its profile. Just a year before the USA’s 200th birthday, Mackinac Island had developed such appeal that President Gerald R. Ford became the first sitting president to visit. And just a few years later, Mackinac Island was where the cult classic movie “Somewhere In Time” was filmed.
July 4, 2026, American Semi-Quincentennial on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island’s visitor-friendly reputation has only been enhanced over the past half-century with the addition of luxurious places to stay such as Mission Point Resort and the newly renovated Inn at Stonecliffe. Traditions including Mackinac Island’s Halloween Weekend have extended the visitor experience through the end of October, earning Mackinac Island the honor of the USA’s Best Place To Visit For Fall in addition to being the USA’s Best Summer Travel Destination.
Come visit in 2026 and see what makes Mackinac Island so special. Plus, you can find America250 merchandise all season long in the Fort Mackinac Museum Store and in the Mackinac Island Visitor’s Center. And if you can make it to Mackinac Island for this year’s 4th of July festivities, it will be an experience to remember until the American Tricentennial 50 years from now and beyond!
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